At what point are we no longer newbies?

[Steph]

My husband says we still are. We have been MTB'ing for about 6 months or so and still riding some low end hard tails. We only get to ride once a week so are we still newbies?

[KnottedYet]

I don't know. Do you feel like a newbie? If you don't feel like a newbie, then I don't think you are.

As far as I know, "newbie" is a self-determined thing.

[caligurl]

oh... i'm STILL a total newb at MTBing!!!!! and i first got one over a year and a half ago!!!! i tend to ride the road bike more... since getting my new stumpy in december i'm riding the MTB more now... but still feel like a total beginner!!!!

[SouthernBelle]

I started riding in a 'serious' fashion last spring, maybe March. Still consider myself a newb for most purposes. I can help out a total newb, but there are lots of things I have to learn.

[7rider]

I started mountainbiking about 10 years ago - once a week. I got okay. Never great. Had a bad crash. Ride rarely now. Haven't been in the woods in ... well, in a loooooong time. My own head is my worst enemy in the woods. Total freak-out with obstacles. Yeah. I'm a newbie. I suspect I always will be.
On the road....I've been riding for about 15 years. Sometimes, things click and I can say "hey, I'm a cyclist and I have my act together about this." Sometimes, I ride with folks who really have their act together, and I feel like a total dork. Then I say "I'll always be a newb."
So, yeah. Being a newbie is a state of mind. No one hands out diplomas or anything.

[Kalidurga]

I've been riding on a fairly regular basis ever since I was a kid, so for that reason I don't consider myself a newbie. But last year I bought a new bike, got clipless pedals & a computer, and discovered TE. I now think about what's involved in going for a ride, and I've learned so much that I never knew before. For that reason, I do consider myself a newbie.

No matter how much I learn or how my riding skills/endurance/etc continue to improve, I'll always read the newbie section of forums like this just because there's so much good information to be had.

[LadyinWhite]

So, yeah. Being a newbie is a state of mind. No one hands out diplomas or anything.

Wouldn't that be awesome if someone did though??

[inatree]

i guess i'll stop being a newbie when other roadies stop treating me like crap.

[bcipam]

i guess i'll stop being a newbie when other roadies stop treating me like crap.

I've been riding for 30 years and have completed 100's of centuries and week long rides and some roadies still treat me like crap - so don't let that be your criteria. I just consider any roadie that treats another rider poorly is a poser in my book!

[Trek420]

inatree, you're just riding around the wrong folks we'll do a bay area ride soon I bet, and c'mon out and ride with us.